Translator: Lilo
Editor: Ryuubii

Chapter 3: Daily Attacks In the Library

Act 4(1)

Friday of that week, after school.

Today, as usual, there were only a few students in the library, and so far it has been peaceful. As I was sitting at the counter, doing some work that the teacher asked me to do, I suddenly heard a rhythmic shuffling sound.

I looked up and glanced around the room.

The first thing I saw was Kanata-senpai. She was in her usual seat by the window, making her pen work as usual. Today, there were several books piled up around her, so she may have come here to do some historical research.

Then a sleeping boy student. Well, as long as he was not bothering anybody, I’ll tolerate him sleeping in the room.

And―found it. A female student with white earphones in her ears. She must have started listening to music on her smartphone or something. Normally, I would have just ignored it, but if she was leaking sound, it was a different story.

“Excuse me.”

She had her back facing the counter, so I went up to her and called her.

“Eh? What is it?”

She responded by removing one earphone from her ear.

“Can you please turn the volume down a little?”

“No way. You heard it?”

“A little.”

The truth was it wasn’t just a little.

“My bad.”

She then lowered the volume. Afterwhich, she put the earphones in her ears again and went back to her stuff. It seems she was studying.

Surprisingly, there are various people who go in and out of the library. Students who borrow books and go home. Some don’t borrow books, they just read them. They would come back later and read the rest of the book. Some teachers would borrow a few classic literature books to introduce in class, while some students don’t touch the books at all and just sit at their seats and study.

When I returned to the counter now that the case had been settled, a female student came flying into the library.

“Hey thereー, Librarian-kun.”

As soon as she came in, she called out to me with such enthusiasm that it was doubtful that she had properly identified me.

Just when I thought there would be some peace, here she comes. I almost wanted to hit my forehead against the counter.

I gestured for her to be quiet and she understood what she did wrong. Then she came to the counter, skipping her feet. She didn’t have to do that, though, because the floor was carpeted, so footsteps barely made any noise.

“Good afternoon, Shiiba-senpai.”

That female student was Shiiba Akane-senpai. Today, she was alone. Hasumi-senpai, who was with her the other day, and the other senpais weren’t with her.

“I came to return this.”

She then handed me a copy of the Manyoshu that she borrowed the other day.

“You already read it?”

“No. It was too complicated, so I couldn’t read it.”

Shiiba-senpai said in a casual manner. However, she did read it, but it probably just wasn’t for her.

“Is there anything less complicated?”

And it seems that she has not lost interest in it. Then, as a member of the library committee, I had to respond to her desire to read. I figured this would have been the case, so I did some digging.

“There’s a manga version.”

“What do you take me for?”

“Well, that reaction is expected.”

Of course I was joking, and Shiiba-senpai was also laughing.

“How about the one that has the original text and the modern translation side by side? I think it would be easy to read.”

“Ah, that would be nice.”

Once the next book has been selected, I start the return process on the Manyoshu that has just been returned to me.

Scanning the barcode on the cover, an icon of a layaway slip illustration appeared. This book has been reserved. Clicking on the icon would print out the form. I clipped it to the book and placed it directly on the book truck where I would place the reserved materials.

Then after, I check the status of the book Shiiba-senpai wants to borrow. As I recall, no one is borrowing it right now… Ah, I knew it.

“I’ll go and get it.”

“Yep, thanks.”

I left the counter and headed for the classic literature section. I quickly found the book I wanted and returned with it in my hand.

“Here it is.”

“Let me see… Ah, yeah, it looks reable.”

Shiiba-senpai flipped through the pages and expressed her impression.

“Will you borrow it?”

“Yep. I’ll take my time reading through it at home.”

She then quickly pulled out her library card this time. It seems she simply had shoved it in her skirt pocket.

I receive it along with the books and check them out.

“You’re quite dependable.”

“Well, it’s my job.”

It was when the book and the card were back in Shiiba-senpai’s hands again.

“Too slow!”

A third-party voice, not mine or hers, interrupted.

Needless to say, it was Hasumi-senpai.

“Oh, Shion-chan. I invited her to go to you, Librarian-kun. But she didn’t seem interested, so I left her alone.”

Unfortunately, that type of invitation might never work with Hasumi-senpai.

Shiiba-senpai, for some reason, looked triumphant.

“Fufun. I knew you’d come.”

“What do you mean you knew?! Don’t get any ideas!”

Hasumi-senpai got angry with her eyebrows raised.

It was really a misunderstanding, not a failed attempt to hide (or pretend to hide) her fondness for me unlike Takinami-senpai did, so it must be upsetting for Hasumi-senpai to be misunderstood that way.

“Say something too, Librarian-kun.”

Shiiba-senpai looked at me.

“I also want to see you, Hasumi-senpai.”

“…I’m gonna smack you.”

She replied with a straight face. She meant it.

“I’m just kidding… We’re really nothing what you imagined.”

“Besides, I was just picking you up since you’re taking your sweet time in the library, Akane.”

Hasumi-senpai was clearly upset, but Shiiba-senpai does not seem bothered.

“Look, look. I was recommended another book. Isn’t it nice?”

“Not really… Come on, let’s get going.”

Shiiba-senpai happily showed the book she just borrowed, while Hasumi-senpai looked grumpy in contrast.

She probably didn’t want to come to the library because she didn’t want to see me at school, but she also didn’t enjoy leaving her friends with me, so she came all the way here reluctantly.

I must be partly to blame for her grumpiness.

“Oh, what a lively day.”

And came another voice.

It was Takinami Ruika.

As if it were the reenactment of the other day.

“We’ve been meeting here quite a lot, don’t you think, you two?”

Takinami-senpai smiled, as if she was pleased with this coincidence.

“Do you come here often, Takinami-san?”

“Yes.”

On the contrary, Hasumi-senpai asked a question looking to probe, and Takinami-senpai nodded her head in affirmation.

“You must love books, huh?”

“As much as everybody else.”

“Hmm…”

Hasumi-senpai was nodding and appeared to be thinking about something, she then turned to Shiiba-senpai.

“Akane, go on ahead. I have something to talk about with Takinami-san.”

“Eh? Okay?”

Shiiba-senpai looks at Takinami-senpai and Hasumi-senpai’s faces alternately in confusion.

“Alright, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

But she seemed to have convinced herself somehow. After looking at the two of them and me again with some concern, Shiiba-senpai left the library. Don’t look at me. After all, I don’t know what to expect either.

Hasumi-senpai confronts Takinami-senpai once again.

“What’s your intention, Takinami-san?”

“……”

Hasumi-senpai asked a question that lacks specificity, to which Takinami-senpai pondered for a while.

Eventually, her expression slightly changed.

“I quite like Shizuru.”

Takinami-senpai’s demeanor is just like when we were alone together.

“Shi, Shizu?!”

“Oh, when it’s just the two of us, I call him by his first name. But, he wouldn’t call me by my first name.”

Takinami-senpai looks at me, a little dissatisfied.

“To have him keep me company. That’s why I come here often.”

“My response will still be the same, even if you keep coming back.”

“Look at him.”

That’s what she said. Rather, it was the opposite. She giggled and laughed, since she found it interesting when things don’t go as planned.

“Ah, of course, I borrow books from time to time.”

“….”

Hasumi-senpai, on the other hand, was opening and closing her mouth. It was probably because of the appearance of Takinami Ruika she had never seen before, and also learning about the unexpected relationship between me and her. Or perhaps it could also be because of my cold attitude towards Takinami Ruika.

Still, Hasumi-senpai somehow manages to calm down and squeeze out a few words.

“I don’t get it. What’s so good about this guy?”

“Shizuru and I are of the same kind.”

Takinami-senpai proudly declare.

“Same kind? How so? You two are nothing alike.”

“Well, it would appear so, wouldn’t it? But no matter what anyone says, Shizuru and I are the same kind of people. That’s why I think we should be together.”

“…Hmm.”

Hasumi-senpai responded with a blank stare, or perhaps feigned to do so.

“Well, suit yourself.”

“Of course, I’ll suit myself.”

Takinami-senpai paused for a second.

“Is what I’d like to say, but before I do―Hasumi-san, last time you were poking fun at Shizuru, and same goes for today… Do you perhaps like him?”

“Ha?! Of course not!!”

Hasumi-senpai voiced her dismay, as if she heard the most outrageous thing ever.

I involuntarily look around. I thought that having the two most famous female students representing Akanedai High School together and arguing with each other would inevitably draw attention, but fortunately for me, only a few people were still present.

There were only three people left. A boy who had fallen asleep and was still sleeping, and a girl who was listening to music. Neither of them seem to have noticed anything unusual. Kanata-senpai was the only one left, but she didn’t seem to be paying any attention to us.

“I bet.”

Takinami-senpai, despite her agitated attitude just a few moments ago, retracted her hypothesis surprisingly easily.

“Hasumi-san, you don’t seem to be childish… Then why do you always poke fun at him?”

“That has nothing to do with you, Takinami-san.”

“I guess so. It has nothing to do with me. But if you say that, it’s also none of your business what happens between us.”

“…”

Hasumi-senpai fell silent after being hit on a sore spot.

It was natural. That kind of selfish logic where you would interfere and not expect to be interfered as well was not going to work.

“So, no matter whether I make a move on Shizuru or not, can you please stay out of it, Hasumi-san?”

Apparently, Takinami-senpai was intentionally provoking Hasumi-senpai. I don’t think she really suspects that Hasumi Shion has a liking for Makabe Shizuru, but she may have felt that she was hiding something and was trying to pull it out.

Of course, the reason Hasumi-senpai was poking at me was simple. Because she hates me. And because she doesn’t like the fact that I’m getting along with someone else. In other words, Takinami-senpai was like a fly on the wall.

However, there was no way to say such a thing, and Hasumi-senpai had no choice but to back down ― as she should have.

“We do have a connection.”

When it seemed she was going to shut her mouth, she suddenly springs into action with a disapproving look.

I knew it was bad news. I thought I had to stop her.

But it was too late.

“…Because this guy is my step-brother.”

“Ha?”

Takinami-senpai let out a small audible voice.

Hasumi-senpai looked irritated. Was she angry about the fact, or was she unwilling to speak out about it?

Silence fell between us three.

“You sure make some pretty funny jokes, don’t you think, Shizuru?”

The first one to speak was Takinami-senpai.

She looked at me for agreement.

“Shizuru?”

However, a puzzled voice escaped her mouth. It was because I had my face on my hands and  was sighing.

“I am very sorry, Takinami-senpai, but what Hasumi-senpai said is undeniably true. She and I are now siblings.”

I looked around the room once again as I looked up. No one was paying attention to us. Thank God… indeed. She told me not to say anything, but she was the one who spilled the beans.

“What does that… eh? Is that how it is?!

It seemed that she arrived at the answer in the middle of trying to ask a question. It saves a lot of explaining to do.

“That’s how it is.”

Thanks to that, I only had to say one phrase.

“That’s quite…”

Fact is stranger than fiction, as one might say, and here it was. Even Takinami-senpai seemed to be at a loss for words.

“But wait. If that’s the case, that doesn’t explain why you’re poking at Shizuru. Doesn’t look like your cute little brother was giving you bugs or something…”

“Of course not.”

Hasumi-senpai barked once again.

Of course. I wouldn’t do that anyway.

“I told you before. I’m being hated.”

“Hated?”

However, Takinami-senpai did not seem to get the point, and tilted her head.

I think it was obvious that I’m an eyesore, having been born as a testament to her father’s betrayal, and having even moved into the house on top of that.

“What I’m saying is―”

I opened my mouth to try to explain to Takinami-senpai however.

“…Not really. I don’t really hate you.”

Hasumi-senpai murmured.

Takinami-senpai and I looked back at the same time, but she turned away.

Silence again.

“…How unpleasant. I’m heading home.”

After saying a few words, Hasumi-senpai left the library.

“She must have mixed-feelings about it.”

Takinami-senpai said while staring at the doorway where Hasumi-senpai’s back had disappeared.

“You think?”

“Especially when you’re like that, Shizuru.”

Although our relationship was a bit tangled, the feelings held by Hasumi-senpai were quite straightforward, or are they not?

Seeing my lack of understanding, Takinami-senpai let out a sigh.